Feedback Casinomeister's open door policy

The bottom line is that I want to ensure that we maintain a rich community that promotes free expression, but also maintains a lever of respect towards each other.

We need to acknowledge the limits of communicating via text and emoticons. I find that a lot of comments made that could be deemed either offensive or trollish in nature, are the the result of not foreseeing how the comment might be viewed or taken by others. This is the downside of modern communications whether it is here in the forum, or via emails, of phone texts. Not many folks know how to monitor their tone.

Yeah, I know there are a number of intentional trollish posts - I am referring to the unintentional.

So perhaps an article about forum etiquette and effective communication is due. This I can do in the near future - and I am always open for contributions.
 
[...]
So far I have a load of people that say don't change a thing. I have others that say - "yeah, the political rants section is a problem - it should go." And I have been approached by some that are pointing out a toxic environment of cliquish behavior - thus they are not posting as much as before.
[...]
The bottom line is that I want to ensure that we maintain a rich community that promotes free expression, but also maintains a lever of respect towards each other.

We need to acknowledge the limits of communicating via text and emoticons. I find that a lot of comments made that could be deemed either offensive or trollish in nature, are the the result of not foreseeing how the comment might be viewed or taken by others. This is the downside of modern communications whether it is here in the forum, or via emails, of phone texts. Not many folks know how to monitor their tone.

[...]
The forum seems to have morphed into a catch-all for anything and everything, rather than just gambling related.

And that perhaps is where the problem lies.

Many sections of the forum are inoffensive, some are informative, and others are simply fun, e.g.

  • Horse racing and tips
  • TV Talk
  • Simply Movies
  • Health and Wellness
  • Foodies Forever
  • Your fur babies (my personal favourite)
etc. etc. etc.

The actual gambling threads, irrespective of the subject, remain relatively polite and friendly, although obviously there are exceptions, but these exceptions in the main appear to be caused by Newbie members with an axe to grind.

But then we have Political Rants which causes the most dissension, although some of the threads in The Attic can be vicious as well.

Regarding the Trump threads, it is very difficult for most of us to remain non-confrontational when the subject under discussion is so dear to our heart, and this is perhaps the driving force behind our behaviour, which translates to a language we would never dream of using in face-to-face discussions. As CM so aptly stated: "We need to acknowledge the limits of communicating via text and emoticons."

Bryan states: "The bottom line is that I want to ensure that we maintain a rich community that promotes free expression..."

Is this really feasible when some threads are so controversial?

To answer my own question: I firmly believe that permanently closing some of these threads would be to deprive many of us an outlet in which to understand and discuss different POV's regarding world events. And I actually believe that this action would also be removing the heart of the forum as it exists in its current form.

So what to do?

There are a few options that I can see.

Remove all contentious threads. Or moderate the hell out of them.

Members to avoid threads where they know they are going to lose control of their emotions.

Members who participate in the more volatile sub-forums to treat participants as they would in real-life, and make a determined effort to remain polite, and stop with all the insults (and insulting emojies).

Accept that certain threads - and subjects - will always have an element of friction and antagonism, and leave those threads to 'self-govern'.

So... sorry Bryan - nothing new to add or help you with a resolution to a problem that is starting to take over your awesome forum.
 
Wow, i jumped from page 2 to here as often when the bickering starts i will read the first few posts then skip the backwards and forwards.

Bryan i love your forum although ive had my moans and groans. On the whole its just like my community or any other i imagine.

There are the village idiots and the tramps, the scummy family at the end of the road who actually seem ok to me but are mostly detested by all.. Bev downstairs who sticks her nose in where its not wanted on a regular basis. Theres the Eastern Europeans who seem a little strange to some but are welcoming and love a party to most. Theres Barry over the road who silently watches with his cctv and then comes out screaming with a bat at the first sign of trouble. Jean who answers the door at 74 in her nightie (not a pretty sight) and our friends from Sri Lanka who run the two shops at the ends of the roads. There are many more characters and people from all walks of life - lets not forget Ian and Janet next door - quite simply the best neighbours a man could wish for.

The point is there are occasional differences and some like some and others hate all but we police ourselves like most communities and we have a chain of command we can go through or emergency numbers should things get really sticky - much like your forum.

Its fine as it is i think. A procedure for keeping people in check but a free reign mostly to allow the community to speak and act freely.

Thumbs up from me (trip to desert ready with Maxd pack advice but please warn the local wildlife about my kids).

Happy Halloween all.
 
Just found out Harry has left us. Absolute shame. He may have been somewhat passionate in the political threads but politics brings out the best/worst in people.

Still, division is key for control over the masses and it seems the division has reached CM.

Come back @Harry_BKK - my CM forum wont be the same without you!
 
I will say it is not the same forum as it was say 4-5 years ago or more, then there was like no bickering or moody people pouncing on your posts or fighting over contests and you get a lot of likes and emoji's and such. It was a closer more friendly place which was unseen or unheard of for a forum on the internet.

Now nobody hardly likes a post or whatnot, people not talking or being as friendly to each other it seems, fighting in contest threads.

It's been like this for quite a while now and it seems to get worse every year or as time goes on.

Just the closeness and communication seems to be gone. :(

Nothing that you have done or anything, just the changes over the years that I have noticed.
 
Well, this forum has always been dynamic - people come and go for a variety of reasons. Some of the non-interaction via emoticons is because I have not incentivize it like I used to. Perhaps with the upcoming upgrade this can be implemented. Remember the posts of the fortnight? That was a pretty cool thing that I have not done for a few years due to software limitations and a lack of time. But yeah, interactions can be affected by interactions of myself or other admin peeops. :D

And then there is a debating process or techniques that some folks adhere to - or not. Ad hominem arguments, for example, are the most common here. Take a look at some of these here:
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Perhpas I should dedicate a section or article about how to debate effectively. Any takers on this? :D
 
Well, this forum has always been dynamic - people come and go for a variety of reasons. Some of the non-interaction via emoticons is because I have not incentivize it like I used to. Perhaps with the upcoming upgrade this can be implemented. Remember the posts of the fortnight? That was a pretty cool thing that I have not done for a few years due to software limitations and a lack of time. But yeah, interactions can be affected by interactions of myself or other admin peeops. :D

And then there is a debating process or techniques that some folks adhere to - or not. Ad hominem arguments, for example, are the most common here. Take a look at some of these here:
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.


Perhpas I should dedicate a section or article about how to debate effectively. Any takers on this? :D

Im always ready to be schooled.

More info cant hurt if you have the time. We do have debate club but i destroyed everyone in the Cast Vs Dogs debate and nobody has dared challenge me since.

I like the sound of 'posts of the fortnight'.
 
...

I like the sound of 'posts of the fortnight'.
The way it worked was that the most thanked post - the one that got the most points via being thanked - was the winner. The winner could choose a charity of his/her choice and we'd donate $100. It was a pretty awesome thing. We will probably get this going once the upgrade has been fiinshed. :D
 
Im always ready to be schooled.

More info cant hurt if you have the time. We do have debate club but i destroyed everyone in the Cast Vs Dogs debate and nobody has dared challenge me since.

I like the sound of 'posts of the fortnight'.

Well obviously the Dogs win in a landslide. A cast isn't even a pet....
 
The way it worked was that the most thanked post - the one that got the most points via being thanked - was the winner. The winner could choose a charity of his/her choice and we'd donate $100. It was a pretty awesome thing. We will probably get this going once the upgrade has been fiinshed. :D
Clearly my corona cooking would top this with ease mate...
 

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